Cable hanger



1964 D. H. FLETCHER ETAL 3,154,279

CABLE HANGER Filed Nov. 2, 1962 INV TQR' W 2. BY Jade/3Z7 M,MW Mud ivy Wr/ 4 United States Patent 3,154,279 CABLE HANGER Daniel H. Fletcher,Winnetka, and Alfred H. Stanley, Hinsdale, TEL, assignors to .loslynMfg. and Supply Co., Chicago, ill, a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov.2, 1962, Ser. No. 234,957 3 Claims. (Cl. 248-74) The present inventionrelates to cable hangers and, more particularly, to cable hangers of thetype utilized for supporting a cable on a support member such as a post,cross-arm or the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedcable hanger wherein there is provided a single integrally formed clampmember for securely gripping the cable on both sides.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedcable hanger of the type described wherein the clamp member is providedwith gripping means which engage both sides of the cable in order toprevent longitudinal movement of the cable within the clamp member.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved cable hanger of the type described wherein the gripping meansof the clamp member includes small burrs extending transversely into thecable with the burrs being formed on the cable contacting portions ofthe clamp member in a single operation, such as by punching or drilling.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a newand improved cable hanger of the type described wherein the clamp memberengages a messenger or supporting cable of a figure S-type cable withthe main electrical cable being suspended below the clamp member.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved cable hanger of the type described wherein a single bolt istightened to secure the cable within the clamp member and to secure thehanger on a support post or cross-arm.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved cable hanger of the type described wherein there is alsoprovided a hook member for loosely supporting the cable during stringingand for supporting the cable in the event that it slips out of the clampmember.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a newand improved cable hanger of the type described wherein the clamp memberis formed of a single piece which is bent in a generally U-shapedcrosssection having a pair of legs each having indentations formedthereon cooperating to form a cable carrying recess of a cross-sectionsubstantially conforming to the cross-section of the portion of thecable to be secured in the recess.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedcable hanger having a clamp member of the type described in thepreceding paragraph wherein the cable carrying recess is normally openalong one end of the clamp member in order that the portion of the cableto be secured therein can be readily inserted into the recess which isthen closed as the clamp member is tightened.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a newand improved cable hanger of the type described which is simple inconstruction, easy to manufacture, low in cost and simple in operationso that a lineman or other person can rapidly and easily secure a cablewithin the hanger.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention areaccomplished by the provision of a new and improved cable hanger havinga clamp member'formed of a single piece bent to have a generallyU-shaped cross section with a pair of downwardly extending legs. Each ofthe legs is provided with a curved portion formed remote from andrunning generally parallel to the joined ends of the legs. The curvedportions face each other and cooperate to form a cable carrying recesshaving a cross-section substantially conforming to the crosssection ofthe cable to be supported. There are provided on the legs gripping meanswhich extend transversely into the recess for gripping the cablesecurely and preventing its longitudinal movement in the recess when thelegs are clamped tightly together.

Additionally, the cable hanger may be provided with a hook member whichis generally J-shaped in cross section having a vertical leg extendinggenerally parallel to the legs of the clamp member and an enlargedhooked end for loosely supporting the cable during stringing before thecable is secured within the recess of the clamp member and forsupporting the cable if it inadvertently falls from the clamp. In thenormal position the legs of the clamp member are spread slightly apartto facilitate the insertion of the cable into the recess and a singlebolt is provided which extends through the legs of the clamp memberbetween the curved portions and the closed end for bringing the legstogether in close abutting relation to secure the cable within therecess when the bolt is tightened. The bolt also extends through the legof the hook member and the support post on which the hanger is mountedto complete the assembly of the hanger. When the legs of the clampmember are brought together as the bolt is tightened the ends thereofadjacent the recess do not touch thus leaving a slight spacetherebetween in order to accommodate the web of a figure S-type cable.

The invention, both as to organization and manner of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages will best be understood by referenceto the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cable hanger constructed inaccordance with the features of the present invention as installed on asupport post and supporting a figure S-type cable:

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the cable hanger of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a clamping member used in the cable hanger ofFIG. 1, showing a cable secured therein;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 44 of FIG. 3but showing the clamp member in its normal position before the cable issecured therein; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 55of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 acable hanger constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention and identified in its entirety by the referencenumeral iii. The hanger 10 is of the type adapted to be secured to apost 12 or crossarm of an electrical transmission structure forsupporting a cable 14. The cable may be of the figure S-type asillustrated having a support or messenger cable 16 and a plurality ofindividual electrical conductors 18 encased within an integralinsulating jacket 20 joined to the covering of the messenger cable by aweb 22.

The hanger is provided with a clamp member 24 formed of a single pieceof metal strap and bent to a generally U-shaped cross-section havinglegs 26 and a closed or bulbed end 28 joining the legs. Each of the legs26 is provided with an indentation or curved portion 30 and the twocurved portions cooperate to form a cable carrying recess 32 ofsubstantially the same cross-section as the cable to be supportedtherein. The curved portions are formed at the ends of the legs oppositethe bulbed end 28 and are aligned generally parallel to this end. Forstillness, the legs 26 are provided with ridges 34 and there areprovided in the legs aligned holes 36 for accommodating a mounting andclamping bolt 38. The clamping member 24 can be rapidly and easilyproduced and bent to shape automatically by machine. The clamping memheris bent to the approximate shape shown in FIG. 4 with the legs 26diverging slightly outwardly from the bulbed end to leave a spacebetween the curved portions 30. This is desirable in order that thecovered messenger cable 16 or other cable can readily be slipped betweenthe legs and secured within the recess 32 when the legs are drawntogether in the manner shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5.

It should be noted that the recess 32 of the clamp member is dimensionedslightly smaller than the outer diameter of the covering around themessenger cable 16 so that when the legs 26 are moved tightly togetherto the position shown in FIG. 5, the covering is under slightcompression and the cable 14 is thus tightly secured against pulling outpast the ends of the legs. When the legs are pressed together the ends26a of the legs do not touch each other since there is a small spacetherebetween to accommodate the web 22 of the cable covering 2%. Thisweb is under compression from the ends 26a of the legs for more tightlysecuring the cable in the clamp member.

In accordance with another important feature of the present invention,there is formed in the wall of each curved portion 3i) gripping means,such as the burrs or teeth 39. Each such burr extends inwardly from thecurved portion transversely of the axis of the messenger cable 16 and,when the clamp member is tightly closed, the burr bites into thecovering 20 surrounding the cable 16, thus preventing longitudinalmovement of the cable relative to the clamp member. Preferably, theseburrs or teeth are formed by inwardly punching or drilling holes in thelegs after curved portions are formed therein. In normal drilling orpunching operations, burrs are formed on the inside surface of the piecebeing drilled when the drill or punch breaks through the last portion ofthe metal. Since these burrs serve a useful purpose they are not removedas is the usual practice. It should also be noted that, since the cover20 of the cable 16 is under compressive stress from the walls of thecurved portions 30, the holes 40 provide a space for expansion of thecover. This expansion forms small cylindrical bosses Within each holeand further aids in preventing longitudinal movement of the cable withinthe clamp.

In order to support the cable 14 in stringing position, extending frompole to pole before it is inserted into the clamp member 24, there isprovided a hook member 42 formed of strap and bent into a generallyJ-shaped cross Section with a leg 44 positioned to lie parallel to thelegs 26 and a curved hook portion 46 positioned to extend beneath thecable 14 and to underlie the clamp member. The leg 44 of the hook membermay be transversely curved in cross-section so that it will fit tightlyagainst the round post or pole 12, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The leg 44is provided with an opening through which the bolt 38 is passed and theleg is spaced from the clamp member 24 by means of a first nut 48. Thebolt 38 is also provided with a second nut 54 which, when tightened,closes the legs of the clamp member 29 to secure the cable therein.

In using the cable hanger 10, a hole is drilled in the support post 12or crossarm where the hanger is to be mounted. The bolt 38 is insertedthrough this hole with the threaded end extending outwardly from thepost. The leg 44 of the hook member 42 is placed over the bolt with thehooked end at the bottom and the nut 48 is then tightened on the bolt tosecure the hook member in place on the post. The clamp member 24 is thenplaced in position with the bolt extending through the openings 36 inthe legs thereof and the nut 50 is loosely threaded onto the bolt.

The cable 14 is then loosely strung from post to post and is supportedwithin the curved hook portion 46 of the hook member 42. After the cablestringing is completed, the cable is adjusted to the proper tension andthe covered messenger cable 16 is inserted into the open recess 30between the legs 26 of the clamp member. The nut 50 is then tighteneduntil the legs 26 are in abutting relation in the position shown in FIG.5, thus tightly securing the cable to the hanger as before described.It, for any reason it is desired to remove the cable from the hanger,the nut St) is loosened so that the legs 26 spring apart to open therecess 30 and release the cable. The bulbed end 28 of the clamp member24 acts like a spring to cause the legs to spread apart at their ends inorder to open the recess 30. If the cable somehow drops from the clampafter installation it falls onto the hooked end 46 where it is looselyheld until the necessary repairs can be made.

In view of the foregoing description it will be observed that the hanger10 provides a means for securing a cable to a support post or the likein a simple, foolproof arrangement. The cable is tightly held againstlongitudinal movement because of the burrs 39 and holes 49 and is alsosecured against lateral movement by the walls of the recess. The hangerIt is much easier to work with than two piece clamps which are oftenused and can be produced in quantity very economically. It is to beunderstood that the cross-section of the recess could be square,hexagonal, triangular, etc., in order to fit the shape of the cable tobe supported. Regardless of the shape of the recess, interior burrs canreadily be provided therein by drilling or punching in the mannerdescribed. Moreover, if it is desired to ground the messenger cable tothe hanger the burrs can be lengthened to pass through the coveringmaterial into the cable itself.

While there has been illustrated or described a single embodiment of thepresent invention, it should be understood that numerous changes andmodifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art and it isintended in the appended claims to cover all such changes andmodifications which fall Within the true spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. A cable hanger for supporting a cable on a support comprising a clampmember formed of a single piece of strap bent in a generally U-shapedcross-section having a pair of legs adapted to face one another in closeabutting relationship, said legs being joined at a bulbed end and beingprovided with indentations facing each other and cooperating to form acable carrying recess extending parallel to the bulbed end and remotetherefrom, said recess having a cross-section substantially conformingto the cross-section of said cable to be supported, gripping means onsaid member extending transversely into said recess for gripping saidcable and preventing its longitudinalmovernent within said recess, saidgripping means including means defining a hole in at least one of saidlegs in communication with said recess for accommodating the extrudedportion of said cable, a hook member having a leg and an outwardly bentlower end, said leg extending parallel to and spaced from the legs ofsaid clamp member and said lower end extending below said recess, andmeans for mounting said hanger on said support, said means extendingthru said leg of said hook member and said legs of said clamp memberintermediate the bulbed end and said recess and including threaded meansfor securing said legs of said clamp member in close abutting relationto tightly grip said cable in said recess.

2. A cable hanger for supporting a figure S-type cable having amessenger cable and at least one separate cable supported thereby andjoined thereto with a covering having a Web between the cables, saidhanger comprising a clamp member of generally inverted U-shapedcross-section having a pair of legs integrally joined at one end andadapted to face one another in close abutting relationship, said legsbeing provided with indentations facing each other and cooperating toform a cable carrying recess extending parallel to the joined ends ofthe legs and positioned adjacent the ends thereof remote from the joinedends, said recess having a cross-section substantially conforming to thecross-section of the messenger cable, said remote ends of said legsbeing positioned to lie in spaced-apart relation to one another whensaid legs are in close abutting relation in order to accommodate andcompress a portion of the cable web therebetween, and gripping means onsaid member extending transversely into said recess for gripping saidcable and preventing its longitudinal movement Within said recess, saidgripping means including means defining a hole in at least one of saidlegs adjacent the indentation thereof for receiving an extruded portionof said cable cover.

3. A cable hanger for supporting a cable on a support comprising a clampmember of generally U-shaped cross-section having a pair of legsintegrally joined at one end and adapted to face one another in closeabutting relationship, said legs provided with indentations facing eachother and cooperating to form a cable carrying recess extending parallelto the joined ends of the legs and remote therefrom, said recess havinga cross section substantially conforming to the cross section of saidcable to be supported, said legs normally extending divergingly outwardfrom one another from their joined ends to allow said cable to beslipped into said recess between said legs, gripping means on saidmember extending transversely into said recess for gripping said cable,hole defining means on at least one of said legs in communication withsaid recess adjacent said transversely extending gripping means foraccommodating an extruded portion of said cable and preventing itslongitudinal movement Within said recess and means extending thru saidlegs intermediate their indentations and said joined ends for holdingsaid legs in close abutting relation With one another to secure saidcable tightly in said recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,873,357 St. John Aug. 23, 1932 2,004,695 Hager June 11, 1935 3,042,353OMara July 3, 1952

1. A CABLE HANGER FOR SUPPORTING A CABLE ON A SUPPORT COMPRISING A CLAMPMEMBER FORMED OF A SINGLE PIECE OF STRAP BENT IN A GENERALLY U-SHAPEDCROSS-SECTION HAVING A PAIR OF LEGS ADAPTED TO FACE ONE ANOTHER IN CLOSEABUTTING RELATIONSHIP, SAID LEGS BEING JOINED AT A BULBED END AND BEINGPROVIDED WITH INDENTATIONS FACING EACH OTHER AND COOPERATING TO FORM ACABLE CARRYING RECESS EXTENDING PARALLEL TO THE BULBED END AND REMOTETHEREFROM, SAID RECESS HAVING A CROSS-SECTION SUBSTANTIALLY CONFORMINGTO THE CROSS-SECTION OF SAID CABLE TO BE SUPPORTED, GRIPPING MEANS ONSAID MEMBER EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY INTO SAID RECESS FOR GRIPPING SAIDCABLE AND PREVENTING ITS LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT WITHIN SAID RECESS, SAIDGRIPPING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS DEFINING A HOLE IN AT LEAST ONE OF SAIDLEGS IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID RECESS FOR ACCOMMODATING THE EXTRUDEDPORTION OF SAID CABLE, A HOOK MEMBER HAVING A LEG AND AN OUTWARDLY BENTLOWER END, SAID LEG EXTENDING PARALLEL TO AND SPACED FROM THE LEGS OFSAID CLAMP MEMBER AND SAID LOWER END EXTENDING BELOW SAID RECESS, ANDMEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID HANGER ON SAID SUPPORT, SAID MEANS EXTENDINGTHRU SAID LEG OF SAID HOOK MEMBER AND SAID LEGS OF SAID CLAMP MEMBERINTERMEDIATE THE BULBED END AND SAID RECESS AND INCLUDING THREADED MEANSFOR SECURING SAID LEGS OF SAID CLAMP MEMBER IN CLOSE ABUTTING RELATIONTO TIGHTLY GRIP SAID CABLE IN SAID RECESS.